A30243:309
Spiritual refining
Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.
London: printed by A. Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF GRACE and ASSURANCE; Being CXX. SERMONS. › Section 2 › Sermon 12
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Universal Obedience is a sign when it doth carry us out equally to the duties of 1the first table concerning God, and the second our neighbour. To pretend much devotion in matters of God, and to show no conscience or equity in matters with man, is horrible hypocrisy. The Pharisees were notorious in this, who had their long prayers, and yet devoured widows houses, who taught that neither father or mother might be relieved by their children of any thing they had, if it were Corban, that is, a gift consecrated to God. Those that are skilful in the Jewish customs tell us, That the Pharisees taught any man might vow the goods he hath to God, absolutely, or only in respect of this or that singular person, so that he shall have no benefit by it, and then when this vow was made they thought they might relieve no body, no though their Parents, and that in extreme necessity; but notwithstanding all this seeming Religion to God, how corrupt and carnal in their carriages to men? Fides est copulativa, and so must our Obedience be copulative. Thy Religion to God is no sign of grace, if there be unconscionable dealing towards men. Again, if thou beest careful in duties to men, and negligent in the religious service of God, hence thy rottenness of heart is manifested, thou dost with all thy heart love a civil, just and righteous man, but thou canst not abide a forward religious man, thou lovest not strict keeping of the Sabbath, diligent and powerful Family-duties, Oh, what little hope is here of true grace in such a mans heart! It is ordinary with Scripture to describe all Religion and Piety by one duty sometimes, and sometimes by another, sometimes by praying to God, sometimes by keeping his Sabbaths, sometimes by fearing of an oath, because where one duty is graciously performed, there all the others will be also.
3. Universal Obedience is a sign when it doth carry us out equally to the duties of 1the first table concerning God, and the second our neighbour. To pretend much devotion in matters of God, and to shew no conscience or equity in matters with man, is horrible hypocrisie. The Pharisees were notorious in this, who had their long prayers, and yet devoured widows houses, who taught that neither father or mother might be relieved by their children of any thing they had, if it were Corban, that is, a gift consecrated to God. Those that are skilfull in the Jewish customs tell us, That the Pharisees taught any man might vow the goods he hath to God, absolutely, or only in respect of this or that singular person, so that he shall have no benefit by it, and then when this vow was made they thought they might relieve no body, no though their Parents, and that in extream necessity; but notwithstanding all this seeming Religion to God, how corrupt and carnal in their carriages to men? Fides est copulativa, and so must our Obedience be copulative. Thy Religion to God is no sign of grace, if there be unconscionable dealing towards men. Again, if thou beest carefull in duties to men, and negligent in the religious service of God, hence thy rottennesse of heart is manifested, thou dost with all thy heart love a civil, just and righteous man, but thou canst not abide a forward religious man, thou lovest not strict keeping of the Sabbath, diligent and powerful Family-duties, Oh, what little hope is here of true grace in such a mans heart! It is ordinary with Scripture to describe all Religion and Piety by one duty sometimes, and sometimes by another, sometimes by praying to God, sometimes by keeping his Sabbaths, sometimes by fearing of an oath, because where one duty is graciously performed, there all the others will be also.